Washington Nationals: Staff predictions for 2018

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Another Washington Nationals season is upon us and the staff of District on Deck make their annual predictions. How will the Nats do?

The Washington Nationals season is upon us and it is time to make staff predictions.

Expectations heading into a season have never been higher. With the National League East remaining weak, we all feel they return to the playoffs for the third-straight season. Boy, there will be egg on our faces if they fall short.

Aside from where we think the Nats finish this season, the writers here at District on Deck gaze into our own cracked crystal ball and grab guidance on award winners and something off the wall that might happen.

How many bases does Trea Turner steal? Have we all picked Washington to win the World Series? Has anyone dared thinking where Bryce Harper plays in 2019? Only he knows the answer.

One thing for sure, this is setting up as the most memorable and climatic in team history. After years of regular season success crushed in the playoffs, we feel a change in the air.

The national pundits are bullish on Washington. Early power rankings have then either in the top five or within the top three in the NL. A super team on the brink loaded with talent. Everyone agrees the Nats are headed in the right direction.

So, these are our predictions. No running to Las Vegas with them. In the comments below, tell us yours. How will they finish and what awards will they win? We will share them on Twitter.

Drew Douglas, Site Expert

It is no secret that the Nats are an immensely talented team. They have been for a while, yet they have not even won a postseason series.

However, that changes this year. The Houston Astros won it all last year and improved this offseason, but the Nats will keep them from winning back-to-back titles in a thrilling World Series.

From the top to bottom, the Nats may have the best roster in the game. Unfortunately, injuries have been a recurring theme over the last few years. If they can remain relatively healthy throughout 2018, especially come October, this can be the year we finally party on South Capitol Street.

In 2016, the Cubs proved that no drought lasts forever. Dave Martinez was right in the middle of their historic run, serving as their bench coach, and he is now at the helm in DC. His positive attitude, analytics, and gimmicks are just what the doctor ordered for the Nats. When everyone gets tight in the postseason, Martinez will loosen the team up.

Besides winning the World Series, the ultimate accolade, several Nats will win individual awards.

Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Anthony Rendon will all finish in the top ten for MVP voting, with Turner bringing it home. If he can remain healthy, he could swipe 70 bags and crush 25 homers.

Pitching-wise, this is the year that Stephen Strasburg surpasses Max Scherzer. Strasburg is trending upwards while Scherzer is beginning to decline.

Scherzer will have a great year as usual, but Strasburg is the frontrunner to win the Cy Young Award.

2018 could be the final year in DC for several players, such as Harper, Daniel Murphy, and Gio Gonzalez, but it will be a memorable one.

Ross Shinberg, Staff Writer

Most Nationals fans will agree that 2018 is “World Series Or Bust” for the team. My take on this season is that it is “World Series Championship Or Bust.” With the real possibility of Bryce Harper leaving for free agency next fall, it is now or never for the Nationals.

The good news is that the Nats will get back to the playoffs with little trouble. The Mets are inconsistent, the Braves and Phillies are too young, and the Marlins look more like an AAA club than a major league club. Washington should win the division with time to spare in September.

With the division as weak as it is, the possibility is real for the Nats to run up their win count and get home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. I think they will, and it’s a big reason I think the Nats will win the NL pennant.

But in the World Series, I predict the Nats will lose to their Spring Training buddies, the Houston Astros. As of right now, the Astros are the best team in the MLB, and they only got better with the addition of Gerrit Cole.

As for a bold prediction for the 2018 Nationals, I am going historically bold. Besides winning his first Cy Young award, Stephen Strasburg will throw the first perfect game in the MLB since Felix Hernandez did so back in 2012.

Blake Finney, Podcast Director

In a year that the Washington Nationals are expected to cruise home in the National League East, I suspect that they’ll be pushed a lot closer than is expected.

Although I’d still fancy them to win the division, the New York Mets and, to the surprise of some, the Philadelphia Phillies will make it close. Both teams are expecting to challenge for one of the NL wildcard spots.

A 93-69 season seems like a good bet for Davey Martinez’s team to win the NL East.

But once again, the Nats sights will be set on ridding themselves of their playoff series demons. And a rematch with the Chicago Cubs seems likely once again.

Spurred on by Bryce Harper’s determination to win a Championship in his potential DC encore, I have the Nationals making it all the way to the World Series. Before losing to the Houston Astros.

Speaking of Harper, he’s considered one favorite for the NL MVP award. The usual suspects such as Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt will be thereabouts as well. But in his contract year, and with a fully healthy season, the Nats right-fielder will take home the honor for the second time

Going bolder with some predictions, I think Adam Eaton will lead the Nationals in batting average. We saw a glimpse of what he was capable of last April and this season we get the full Mighty Mouse experience as he eclipses the .320 mark.

My other bold prediction is that we see the Nats bat the pitcher eighth than ninth this season. Martinez, a pupil of Joe Maddon, experimented with this a little in spring training. And with Michael A. Taylor being a perfect fit for the role, I think it’ll carry over for most the 2018 season.

Brian Foley, Staff Writer

Record: 94-68

Division: 1st in NL East

Postseason: Lose in NLDS

Despite the Phillies offseason moves, the Nationals should still roll through the division fairly easily. The Nats have a quality bullpen and a stable of offensive options. Philadelphia has talent, but also plenty of question marks, and the rest of the NL East squads range from mediocre to awful.

Injury issues surrounding Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy are certainly something to monitor, but the Nationals have enough depth to paper over their absences for portions of the regular season. The poor rotation depth only really becomes an issue if one of the top four starters suffers a major injury.

A fifth NL East title in seven years is no small feat, but another NLDS loss will crush an already fatalistic fan base. The Nationals’ ceiling is as high as any team in baseball; let’s see if they can drag themselves over the hump when it matters most.

Out-of-the-box Prediction: Trea Turner steals 70 bases

Davey Martinez’s approach to the running game is one of several subplots to watch this season. While the Nats finished fourth in baseball in steals during Dusty Baker’s two-year stint, Martinez’s old club was relatively stationary under Joe Maddon.

Still, if Martinez knows what’s best, he’ll give Turner a flashing green light, even if he hits in front of Bryce Harper. Turner played shortened seasons in 2016 and 2017, but both times, he was on pace to steal at least 73 bases. Only three players have swiped 70 bags this century; Martinez should unleash one of his team’s unique talents.

Sam Phillips, Staff Writer

Every year sports writers prophesied the outcomes of the upcoming season, often they are wrong. With that in mind, these some predictions for 2018. Come September’s end I think we’ll see a familiar site, the Nationals positioned atop the NL East. This will be after a few close calls and, more of a inter-division struggle.

With the Phillies and Braves are trending up, and the Mets a possible threat, the only team that doesn’t seem to pose a competition is the Marlins. However, this may be a blessing in disguise for a Nationals team so used to coasting into the playoffs.

If, in the seasons final weeks, there is still something at stake that adrenaline and intensity may transfer into the postseason. But, as they have for all of recent memory, the Nationals will again preside over the East.

Once the playoffs hit the expectations and history changes. I, however, have a good feeling about this year. Admittedly I’ve had the same feeling in previous years but, this year feels different, in a way climactic. I’m not in the camp claiming 2018 to be the Nationals final overall shot but, we may never see another with this core.

When the dust settles I wouldn’t be surprised to see 95-100 wins. A Cy Young for Scherzer or Strasburg. take your pick. A batting title or MVP going to someone like Harper or Rendon. But, I also wouldn’t be shocked to see a parade next offseason.

Thomas Wilson, Staff Writer

The 2018 Washington Nationals return nearly all the key players from last season’s NL East winning team. And, while GM Mike Rizzo added no big names during the off season, this year’s club is poised to be even stronger as it heads towards opening day.

This time last year, there were questions about the Nationals’ bullpen. Fans had a right to be concerned. The first few months of the season saw many late inning leads disappear. However, following two mid-season trades, the back end of the bullpen became a weapon. So having a full season of Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson, and Sean Doolittle locking down the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings will be a huge upgrade this season.

The same can be said about Adam Eaton. The Nats’ left fielder missed most of 2017 due to knee surgery. And as much as fans loved Jayson Werth, there’s no question that having a healthy Eaton in left field is a big improvement over last year’s team.

With all of their stars back plus a full season of Eaton and the bullpen trio, 2018 is going to be a magical year for Washington. The line up will feature the NL leaders in steals (Trea Turner), batting average (Anthony Rendon), and home runs (Bryce Harper). Their 98 wins will be more than enough to win their third straight NL East title. And the Nationals will win their first ever playoff series. In fact, they’ll win three.

Ron Juckett, Site Expert

We will make this unanimous and crown the Nats NL East division champions.

More from District on Deck

The Mets and Phillies are better on paper, but the Braves and Marlins are not. When you add Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to the mix, there are plenty of chances to fatten the winning percentage on bottom feeders.

It is possible to win the best record in the league. If they can get home field advantage until a possible World Series trip that gives the Nats the best shot at getting over the playoff hunt and into the NL Championship Series.

This team can win 100 games. The talent is too good when healthy. Tanner Roark’s due for a bounce-back year with his simplified delivery. Adam Eaton turns heads with his play in left and his production at the plate. If you loved Sean Doolittle before, you will want his number retired after this season.

Although they will get over the playoff hump, do not book rooms for a parade. Momentum carries Washington to the NL flag, but they run into a Houston team on a mission and fall to the Astros.

Next: 5 must watch players in 2018

Anthony Rendon earns his first MVP. Harper wins the Home Run Derby in July and Turner the All-Star MVP. And, everybody breathes a sigh of relief when Harper’s four-year extension is announced before July.

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